Barcelona will aim to clinch a spot in the UEFA Champions League final when they lock horns with Inter Milan in the semi-final second leg at San Siro on Tuesday night. Hansi Flick has greeted a positive update on the team news front ahead of his side’s latest fixture.
Robert Lewandowski is in the travelling squad after recovering from a hamstring injury that kept him on the sidelines for a few weeks. However, Alejandro Balde could not shrug off his thigh issue and remains on the sidelines.
While Balde, Marc Casado, and Marc Bernal are closing in on returning to action, they remain on the sidelines. In addition, Jules Kounde is still unavailable due to the hamstring injury he picked up in the UEFA Champions League semi-final first leg against Inter Milan last week. Meanwhile, during his pre-match press conference, Flick provided a fitness update on Lewandowski. He also spoke about the personnel issue in the defensive unit.
The Barcelona manager said, “Lewandowski is feeling good and can be available on the bench if we need him. Injuries can’t be changed, the absences of Kounde and Balde are important, but Eric, Hector, Araujo can play…. They will all help us.”
Meanwhile, Flick heaped praise on Lamine Yamal, who has enjoyed a mind-boggling 2024/25 campaign. The German tactician said, “I’ve been here for eight months now, I’m already familiar, Lamine is a genius at 17, he’s incredible, but for me, it’s all about the team. I want the players to be at the highest level.”
Yamal will take his spot in the final third, joining Raphinha and Ferran Torres in the offensive unit.
